Total fund raising attempt is at 10 million dollars. However the first important purchase is a VACUUM FILTRATION CONTINUOUS DRUM to start testing out a pilot scale automated ton per day system. This costs approximately $25,000 after tarrifs and shipping.

I've spent years developing a revolutionary ion exchange membrane using off-the-shelf ingredients like water softener resin and PVC cement. This homogeneous membrane is extremely affordable to make, yet it performs like commercial versions that cost much more. It's durable in extreme conditions (pH 0, high ORP) and enables closed-loop processes with zero toxic waste.

My primary focus right now is the mining industry: using it in Salt Electro Mining (SEM TECH) to extract precious metals and rare earths from ore, tailings, or e-waste while regenerating acids and oxidizers on-site. It cleans up legacy mine waste, recovers critical minerals domestically, and eliminates toxic ponds—real environmental impact.

I've already filed a non-provisional patent (App. No. 19/531,984) and dedicated the technology to the public domain under CC0—anyone can build, use, or improve it freely. The full recipe, build guide, and files are open-sourced on GitHub.

To move from lab to real-world impact, I need your help scaling up: acquiring analytical equipment for validation and quality control. Every contribution accelerates adoption of sustainable, decentralized tech. Donors get updates, shoutouts, and for larger gifts, early prototype samples or custom consultations.

Here are some example of the costs to scale up:

$25,000 continuous vacuum filtration drum

$350,000 ICP-MS Agilent 6490 Triple Quadrupole

$320,000 WD-XRF Rigaku Primus IV

$500,000 Facility space

$150,000 Lab space build out

$300,000 Labor and engineers

$500,000 CNC machines, injection molding equipment, and more

$50,000 Glassy carbon and lead dioxide electrode development

My end goal is a location to mass produce and send out these units for $500,$1000 each. In addition to a proper analytical capabilities to develop further research and provide analytical analysis services which is desperately lacking for the nation.

This isn't just a membrane—it's a path to cleaner mining, cheaper critical minerals, and a more sustainable planet. Join me in open-sourcing the future. Thank you for your support! Robert Karas, Rowow LLC